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The Ministry of Finance has allocated GH¢410 million to support the nationwide rollout of two of the government’s youth empowerment flagship initiatives, the Adwumawura and the National Apprenticeship programmes.
Since the launch of the two programmes earlier this year, over 120,000 and 115,000 applications, respectively, have been received via online and manual channels.
The selection process is underway.
“The goal is to create a new generation of job creators and reduce overdependence on public sector jobs.
The hope is that by the end of the President’s four-year term, at least one company will emerge from this innovative idea and funding support,”
the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, said.
He was speaking at the Government Accountability series at the Jubilee House yesterday.
The programme has been instituted to inform the public about key achievements by ministries, departments and agencies and also provide updates on major campaign promises of the government.
Held weekly with three presentations, the series has since provided updates from the Ministries of Defence, Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Justice, Interior, Roads and Highways, Lands and Natural Resources, among others.
Mr Addo said the Adwumawura Programme, implemented by National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), was to drive youth entrepreneurship, offer strategic business development training, facilitate market access for youth-led businesses, provide startup capital and offer continuous mentorship.
The National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), being implemented by the National Youth Authority (NYA), is also to provide free technical and vocational training to young Ghanaians.
The NAP, inaugurated at the end of April this year, would certify successful apprentices and provide them with startup capital and the equipment necessary to establish their businesses.
Mr Addo said apprentices would receive a monthly stipend during the training.
To implement the programmes, he said, the ministry had partnered with relevant sector stakeholders and technical training institutions to provide practical skills training to about 500,000 young people nationwide in various fields, including artisanal, technical and vocational disciplines.
In collaboration with the NYA, he said the ministry would also introduce the Trainers Certification Programme, which required trainers to undergo assessment and certification through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system to validate their skills and expertise before they would be approved to train apprentices.
The programme, Mr Addo said, was scheduled to commence next week, with the first cohort of trainees matriculating on Tuesday, August 12, this year.
"This initiative is not just about training; it is about employability. Every young person enrolled will receive industry-relevant skills to either find decent employment or start their own business," he said.
“This is one of the largest apprenticeship programmes in our country’s history, reflecting His Excellency President Mahama’s deep commitment to solve unemployment through skills development and enterprise creation,” Mr Addo stated.
For the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment said it would recruit, train and place 259,850 beneficiaries across its operational models.
Addressing the rising menace of the youth abusing opiods, what has become known as “Red”, Mr Addo called for nationwide action to combat the surge in substance abuse among Ghanaian youth.
He described the situation as a national emergency and stressed the collective responsibility in fighting the drug menace that was endangering the lives and future of young people across the country.
“This is not a fight the government can win alone. You might think you are not part and it will not affect you — but it affects all of us. Let us all get involved in the fight against drug abuse,” he added.
He said the ministry recognised the substance abuse as a critical threat to youth development.
In response, he said the ministry had launched the Red Means Stop campaign (UNIMRED) to curb opioid and drug abuse.
“This initiative supports the National Anti-Substance Abuse Campaign and targets schools, youth groups and communities across all 16 regions using culturally sensitive and evidence-based messaging,” he added.
“Youth health is non-negotiable. This campaign is part of our broader Health and Well-Being thematic area, integrating mental health, reproductive education, and youth-friendly services,” Mr Addo stated.
Mr Addo outlined five core pillars anchoring the ministry’s work: health and well-being, skills training and education, economic empowerment, civic engagement and community participation, and personal development and leadership.
He said the ministry’s mandate aligned with the government’s broader Resetting Agenda, adding that, “Our aim is to build an inclusive youth ecosystem that empowers young Ghanaians to contribute meaningfully to national development while remaining globally competitive”.
Since its creation just seven months ago, he said the ministry had rolled out several targeted programmes aimed at addressing the urgent needs of the country’s youth.
